Methods and apparatus for wireless connection management

Abstract

Improved systems and techniques for dual connection to a wireless communications network. In a wireless network comprising one or more macro base stations and secondary base stations, a user device indicates capability to operate and readiness to initiate an alternative multipath transfer control protocol connection. Radio access network procedures provide for communication between a core network, radio access network, and user device to indicate that bearers are being used for, or authorized for use in, an alternative multipath connection and to establish a radio bearer context. In embodiments of the invention, a bearer for alternative multipath connection is established only when a secondary base station becomes available and when a network operator has allowed the use of multipath connection. When a user device indicates that it is ready for multipath connections, core network elements establish bearers, with the alternative connection released when connection to the secondary base station is lost.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 at a core network operating in a wireless communications network comprising a macro base station and one or more secondary base stations, configuring an alternative connection indication, wherein the alternative connection indication specifies that one or more radio bearers assigned to a packet data network connection may he used for an alternative parallel packet data network connection to a single access point name; 
 receiving a connection request originating at a user device, wherein the request includes an indication that the user device is able and prepared to use a parallel connection when a secondary base station becomes available; and 
 configuring a connection request response including the alternative connection indication, such that the connection request response including the alternative connection indication is provided to the user device in response to the connection request indicating capability and preparedness for the user device to use an alternative packet data network connection to a single access point name. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising conveying the alternative connection indication to the macro base station, such that the macro base station responds to the connection request from the user device by providing the alternative connection indication to the user device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alternative connection indication is conveyed to the macro base station in a radio bearer context such that the macro base station establishes a bearer for a packet data network connection to the device using a first radio bearer and, upon a determination that the user device is within range of a secondary base station, establishes a bearer for a packet data network connection between the user device and the secondary base station using a second radio bearer. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the macro base station hands over the second radio bearer to the secondary base station and establishes the second radio bearer for a connection between the user device and the macro base station. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising conveying the alternative connection indication to the macro base station in a radio hearer context such that the macro base station responds to the connection request from the user device by establishing a bearer for the alternative packet data network connection with the user device, using First and second radio bearers. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the macro base station transfers one of the first or second radio hearers to a secondary base station upon a determination that network conditions meet criteria for transferring the user device to the secondary base station. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the radio bearer context defines one or more bearer level quality of service parameters. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, when the user device moves within the coverage area of a secondary base station, using the bearer level quality of service parameters to establish a decision criterion used by one base station to determine whether a particular bearer is to be handed over from the macro base station to the secondary base station. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; 
 memory storing a program of instructions; 
 wherein the memory storing the program of instructions is configured to, with the at least one processor, 
 cause the apparatus to at least:
 control a core network operating in a wireless communications network comprising one macro base stations and one or more secondary base stations, to configure an alternative connection indication, wherein the alternative connection indication specifies that one or more radio bearers assigned to a packet data network connection may be used for an alternative parallel packet data network connection to a single access point name; 
 control the core network to receive a connection request originating at a user device, wherein the request includes an indication that the user device is able and prepared to use a parallel connection when a secondary base station becomes available; and 
 control the core network to configure a connection request response including the alternative connection indication, such that the connection request response including the alternative connection indication is provided to the user device in response to the connection request indicating capability and preference for the user device to use an alternative packet data network connection to a single access point name. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to control the core network to convey the alternative connection indication to the macro base station, such that the macro base station responds to the connection request from the user device by providing the alternative connection indication to the user device. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the alternative connection indication is conveyed to the macro base station in a radio bearer context such that the macro base station establishes a bearer for a packet data network connection to the device using a first radio bearer and, upon a determination that the user device is within range of a secondary base station, establishes a bearer for a packet data network connection between the user device and the secondary base station using a second radio bearer. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the macro base station hands over the second radio bearer to the secondary base station and establishes the second radio bearer for a connection between the user device and the macro base station. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to control the core network to convey the alternative connection indication to the macro base station in a radio bearer context such that the macro base station responds to the connection request from the user device by establishing a bearer for the alternative packet data network connection with the user device, using first and second radio bearers. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the macro base station transfers one of the first or second radio bearers to a secondary base station upon a determination that network conditions meet criteria for transferring the user device to the secondary base station. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the radio bearer context defines one or more bearer level quality of service parameters. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to control the core network to, when the user device moves within the coverage area of a secondary base station, using the bearer level quality of service parameters to establish a decision criterion used by one base station to determine whether a particular bearer is to be handed over from the macro base station to the secondary base station. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; 
 memory storing a program of instructions; 
 wherein the memory storing the program of instructions is configured to, with the at least one processor, 
 cause the apparatus to at least:
 control a user device to send to a wireless communications network comprising a macro base station and one or more secondary base stations, one or more request for a packet data network connection, wherein at least one of the request comprises an indication that the user device is capable of alternative packet data network connection and prepared to establish an alternative packet data network connection to a single access point name when possible; 
 control the user device to establish a packet data network connection with a macro base station using at least a first bearer; and 
 control the user device to receive, during establishment of the packet data network connection, an indication from a core network controlling the wireless communications network as to whether or not the user device is allowed to use an alternative packet data connection. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , further configured to establish a second packet data connection with the macro base station using a second bearer, and in response to a handover of the user terminal from the macro based station to a secondary base station, hand over at least one of the first bearer or the second bearer from the macro base station to the secondary base station. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 17 , further configured to upon a determination that the user device is within range of a secondary base station, establish a second bearer for a second packet data network connection between the user device and the secondary base station. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19 , further configured to release the second packet data network connection upon determination that both the first and the second bearers have been handed over to the macro base station.